Dispersed space based laser weapon

ABSTRACT

A dozen or more orbiting solar generators stay in constant touch. They can be congregated rapidly in space at any desired secret location. Once congregated they all focus their energy to a death star. This death star is a newly launched ICBM with a microwave or laser collector. A laser generator uses this huge energy to project a non-nuclear death ray to a target. The target could be a city, a ship or a satellite. In the event of an asteroid approaching earth, this system could destroy an asteroid. In peacetime the orbiting solar generators supply electric power to an earth based power grid.

CROSS REFERENCE

This is a non-provisional application deriving priority from U.S. PatentApplication 61/770,155 filed Feb. 27, 2013.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to providing a non-nuclear weapon of massdestruction, wherein a plurality of orbiting solar power generators(microwave and/or laser) coordinate their energy to a newly launcheddeath star that focuses this coordinated laser energy to a target.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Death star super weapons have been designed but not implemented. One keyreason is the vulnerability of a giant orbiting weapon from ICBM'sand/or killer satellites and/or space based nuclear explosions.

The present invention eliminates that vulnerability. Many dozen smallorbiting solar generators (cells) are launched so that each cellcontinuously generates solar energy as exemplified in the internationalspace station. Each cell communicates not only with earth controlstations, but with each other. Each cell has an onboard processor thatcontinuously calculates how the group of cells could quickly organizeinto a small area and focus their energy to one death star.

This death star can be launched at a moment's notice from earth. It isnot a sitting duck. Ideally a group of death stars would continuallymove about the earth on tracks, ships, airplanes or in orbit.

When an attack is ordered at least one death star is launched to therendezvous point of a group of cells. The death star obtains an orbitand fixes the target(s) in its guidance system.

The death star can have a burst power laser powered by the accumulationof dozens of cells. Or it may be a reverse telescope that focusesmultiple laser rays from cells and concentrates a super laser beam tothe target.

An enemy would have to obtain and destroy virtually all of the cells toknock the weapon out. Or the enemy would have to obtain and destroymultiple death star ICBM's coming from anywhere on earth.

Even this knock out scenario is not a fatal blow to the system. Sinceone cell can power a city of 80,000, a dozen cells could power a city ofa million people. This system could focus a dozen (or more) cells at atarget, such as a city, and produce the equivalent of Sherman's marchthrough Georgia, all in a non-nuclear manner using microwave energy. Allthis destructive force can be done without the death star at all.

In the ideal scenario the cells would initially function as an orbitingsolar generator for a city. A beam of microwave energy, perhaps fivemiles wide, is generated by a geostationary orbiting solar generator.PG&E is producing one system now.

THE SOLAR POWER CELL

Solar from Space

By Anne L. Fischer

The sun shines 24/7 in outer space, so it is not surprising that solarpower seekers worldwide are setting up shop out there—or at least takingsteps in that direction.

Solar power drawn from space-based satellites is not a new concept. Itwas prevent in the Journal Science in 1968 and patented by Dr. Peter E.Glaser in 1973. During the energy crisis of the 1970's the US Departmentof Energy studied space-based power, proving that, although technicallyfeasible, it was economically impractical and less efficient than otherforms of energy.

In the 1990's, NASA revived the concept with the “Fresh Look” study and,by 2007, with a revived focus on renewable energy sources, manygroups—both government and industry—had stepped up the studies and theinvestment. Over the course of three decades, the US government and NASAhave collectively invested about $80 million in the study of space—basedsolar.

The most common approach to space—based solar power generation wouldplace satellites into geostationary orbit—a 24-hour revolutionsynchronized with the Earth's rotation—at an altitude of 22,500 miles.The satellite would be equipped with photovoltaic solar panels thatwould collect sunlight and, using solid-state power amplifiers, wouldconvert the solar power to 2.45 or 5.8 GHz microwaves that would bebeamed to a receiver on Earth. The receiver, called a rectenna, wouldconvert microwave energy into electricity, which would be sent to alocal power grid.

John C. Mankins, who formerly managed NASA's space solar power studiesand who now owns Managed Energy Technologies of Ashburn, Va., said thatthis is no small undertaking. Speaking with Jeff Young on Nationalpublic Radio's “Living on Earth” program, he said that the transmitterwould measure about a half mile across, or the equivalent ofapproximately 20 international space stations. The beam would be about ahalf mile wide in space and would spread to about four miles wide whenreceived on Earth.

“You'd certainly want to take the right precautions, keep the energydensity, the amount of power that's in a square meter of the beam lowenough to be safe,” he told Young.

Not without Challenges

As with the development of all forms of solar power, a huge challenge isthe generation power cheaply, reliably and safely. Generating it inspace adds variables, including finding materials that can withstandhigh temperatures, placing huge satellite transmitters into space andplacing receivers on Earth, and ensuring that the beams sent to Earthare not harmful to humans or to the environment.

Research and development costs aside, the biggest ticket item isexpected to be the cost of launching the satellites. Space Energy AG ofSwitzerland has made great strides toward developing its solar fromspace concept, and its business plan allocates about $125 million justto hoist its satellite into space.

The beam of microwave energy would measure a mile or two across andwould pass through the atmosphere easily. Some energy would be lost,although exactly how much is not yet know, and skeptics could raisedisaster ridden questions: What if the beam strays? Could birds orhumans be harmed? Would the beam affect weather or cause other changesto the environment?

Dr. James Logan, former chief of medical operations at NASA's JohnsonSpace Center, has studied these issues and has answers to many of thequestions: If the beam strayed, for example, it could be defocused. Ifbirds passed through the beam, they would feel some warmth, butmicrowave radiation is nonionizing and cannot make a charged particlethat would damage DNA or biomolecules.

Signing Up

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) of San Francisco recently signed asupply agreement with Solaren Corp. of Manhattan Beach, Calf., for 200MW of electricity generated in space and transmitted by microwave beamto a receiving station in Fresno County, Calif. The contract calls forthe power to begin to flow in 2016.

In an interview posted on PG&E's Next 100 Web site, Solaren CEO GarySpimak said he is confident that, by using proven technology anddesigns, and through extensive testing, the company will be able todeliver on the contract.

Others also are working at commercializing space based solar power.Space Energy is developing solar satellites, and the Japanese AerospaceExploration Agency (JAXA) plans to have a 1-GW satellite in orbit by2030 but has not decided whether it will beam microwave or laser beamsback to Earth. In conjunction with Mitsubishi Electric and ElectronicUSA of Cypress, Calif., it is working on the concept of a space solarpower system composed of multiple satellites orbiting in formation.

Another group, sponsored by The Discovery Channel, conducted land—basedtests last year, sending a microwave beam from solar collectors on amountaintop in Maui, Hi. The beam was transmitted about 90 miles, or theequivalent of the distance it would have to penetrate from space. Thetransmission was successful but sent only about 20 W with a limitedsetup.

Turning Talk into Action

No one country owns space, so it makes sense to work on an Internationallevel to resolve many of the hurdles. A global dialogue has been takingplace in many forms. For example, in September, the InternationalSymposium on Space—Based Solar Energy will take place in Toronto,sponsored by SPACE Canada in cooperation with the International Academyof Astronautics. A lot of the talk will be focused on perhaps thegreatest hurdles for space—based solar: regulatory and licensing issuesaround frequency allocations, orbital slots and liability. Nonetheless,with promises such as that made by Solaren, space—based solar may bemoving into the sphere of reality.

Solar-Powered Space Station

The International Space Station is a great example of solar power atwork. The largest spacecraft ever in orbit, it has a wingspan ofapproximately 361 ft. and a length of 262 ft. It weights 1 millionpounds and orbits at an altitude of approximately 220 nautical miles.Six astronauts currently are conducting experiments in its sixlaboratories.

The space station is powered by four power modules with two solar arrayson each. The eight arrays produce around 120 kW of usableelectricity—enough to run about 42 average size homes. The arrays play acritical role, supplying power to such things as the systems thatprovide or control the air the astronauts breathe, food storage andtemperature controls.

Each wing uses 32,800 solar cells manufactured by Spectrolab Inc. ofSylmar, Calif., a Boeing Corp. company. The fourth set of solar arrayswas attached in March by two space walking astronauts, with theassistance of a robotic arm that held the $300 million, 14-ton powermodule. With the power supplied by the fourth wing, the space stationnow provides living quarters of six astronauts, double the number priorto the new installation. The astronauts also have enough power for lifesupport and for taking on additional scientific studies.

Designed in the 1990s, the solar cells are silicon-based. SpectrolabPresident David Lillington describes the cells as being the largestproduced at the time, measuring just over 60 cm². He said that the cellscan turn about 14.5 percent of the solar spectrum into electricity.Uniquely designed, the front contacts to the solar cells wrap through tothe back side via small holes drilled through the cells.

The space station provides an ideal environment of evaluation of newsolar cell technologies and materials through NASA's MaterialsInternational Space Station Experiment test bed. In addition, much canbe learned about the effects of atomic oxygen, Lillington said.

Solar cells in space are not without their tormentors. Space debris cantake them out quickly. Carter Reznick, a Boeing engineer, said that,because working on or replacing the cells is not a simple process, thestation is equipped with far more of them than necessary. A cell's powerdrops off over time, but constant monitoring via sensors has shown thatall 82 circuits are working and that there has been no measurable dropthus far. END.

Thus, America could maintain perhaps one solar generator per state. Thecosts would in part be paid by the space based electrical energy.

For wartime use these cells could be scattered all over various orbits.Then the death star(s) completes a rendezvous. The totality of themicrowaves from just ten cells could power a city of one million.

The death star laser generator focuses this energy into a beam.Directing this beam over targets such as cities, military bases or shipswould define a weapon of mass destruction, without nuclear blowback.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main aspect of the present invention is to disperse an enormousorbiting power generator array of cells such that it is not possible toobtain and destroy all the power generating cells.

Another aspect of the present invention is to continuously communicatelocation data among the cells so that a rapid rendezvous of multiplecells could be setup anywhere over the earth.

Another aspect of the present invention is to produce an ICBM energycollector such as a microwave or laser concentrator. This ICBM is calleda death star.

Another aspect of the present invention is to continuously move aplurality of death stars all around the earth ready to launch.

Another aspect of the present invention is to coordinate the launch of adeath star and the rendezvous of several power generating cells rapidly.

Another aspect of the present invention is to combine the discharging ofmultiple cells into the death star and create a non-nuclear weapon ofmass destruction.

Another aspect of the present invention is to direct several cells'microwave energy onto a target, thus, the heat can be turned upgradually.

Another aspect of the present invention is to utilize the cells asorbiting electrical generators in peacetime.

Other aspects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein likereference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

LGM-118A Peacekeeper—a Potential ICBM Launch Vehicle

The post-boost vehicle system is made up of a maneuvering rocket, and aguidance and control system. The vehicle rides atop the boost system,weighs about 3,000 pounds (1,363 kilograms) and is 4 feet (1.21 meters)long.

Aboard the ICBM could be a super capacitor made, for example, from aGraphene—cu compound structure. See Harvesting and Storing LaserIrradiation Energy With Graphene—cu Compound Structure, Wenbin Gong,Cornell University Library, arXIV.org>physics>arXIV:1207.3131, 13 Jul.2012 revised 15 Aug. 2012.

Graphene-metal compound structure has been reported as a novel andoutstanding component used in electrical and optical devices. Publiclyknown is a first-principles study of graphene-cu compound structure,showing its capacity of converting laser energy into electrical powerand storing the harvested energy for a long time. A real-time andreal-space time-dependent density functional method (TDDFT) is appliedfor the simulation of electrons dynamics and energy absorption. Thelaser-induced charge transfer from copper layer to graphene layer isobserved and represented by plane-averaged electron difference anddipoles. The effects of laser frequency on the excitation energy andcharge transfer are studied as well. The enhancement of C-C σ-bond anddecreasing of electron density corresponding to μ-bond within graphenelayer are responsible for the ability of storing the harvested energyfor a long time.

At present, graphene is considered to be an excellent candidate fordevelopment of carbon-based electronics and optoelectronics, thanksto-its properties, such as very high electron mobility, highcurrent-carrying density and excellent heat dissipation. Recent progressin converting solar and mechanical energy into electric power by usingcarbon based materials has opened a door for a brand-new way of energyharvesting with high conversion efficiency. Up to ten times the storageto weight efficiency now known can potentially be achieved. In additioncarbon-based supercapacitor shows its outstanding property of highvalues of capacitance and energy density which indicates the possibilityof storing electrical charges efficiently. Of particular interest is thefact that graphene-based materials have demonstrated controllablesurface and interface properties as well as tailored work functions viafictionalization during synthesis and/or post-treatment. Since thegraphene can be n-type or p-type doped through contacting with differentmetals, it inspires fascination applications of harvesting irradiationenergies such as laser. Previous works have studied the electronictransport through metal-graphene junction and the global photo-responsein epitaxial graphene with metal contact, it is advantageous to explorethe full picture of the electronic dynamic of the contacts at thenanometer scale with the existence of a laser.

It is found that electron transfer from copper layer to graphene sheetoccurs when the compound structure is under the laser irradiation. Dueto the electronic oscillation of graphene sheet, the external appliedlasers with different frequency result in different electron transfers.The in plane σ-bond of graphene enhances after the laser irradiationwhile μ-bond decreases its electronic density. We infer this isresponsible for the long-time life storage of the harvested energy basedon this compound structure. A plane capacitor model could be used todescribe this structure, then harvesting and storing laser irradiationenergy is the procedure of charging the capacitor.

Presently public analysis suggests the use of a plane capacitor model todescribe the compound structure under the irradiation of laser pulses;the induced charge distribution is then modeled as two sheets of charge.Harvesting and storing laser irradiation energy is the procedure ofcharging the capacitor.

The simulations of electron dynamics under irradiation of laser pulsesare performed by using TDDFT method. The graphene-Cu compound structureis found to be an appropriate material to harvest laser energy andconvert the absorbed energy into electric power. The mechanism ofconversion is investigated in our study and the effects of laserfrequency as well. It is found that by subjecting the compound structureto external alternation electric fields parallel to the layers, chargetransfer occurs from the copper layer to graphene sheet. At the samepulse energy, the laser with longer wavelength induces more chargetransfer. The enhancement of in-plane σ-bond in graphene should be thekey point to store the harvested energy for quite a long time. The basicinformation on graphene-cu compound structure obtained in this work isuseful for developing novel energy harvesting and storing other supercapacitor modules might use barium titanate which can hold ten to onehundreds times the energy of to the capacitors. Estimates of energystorage known today are 44 MJ/m cubed. The potential output powers arevery high for a short time. Then the super capacitor can be re-chargedby the cells.

The Laser Weapon

The laser weapon on board the ICBM and its super capacitor energy sourcecould be a weapons grade laser. This technology is publicly available asa ship board laser weapon. Seenews.yahoo.com/navys-laser-weapon-blasts-bad-215808231.html,©2013.

Early next year the Navy will place a laser weapon aboard a ship in thePersian Gulf where it could be used to fend off approaching unmannedaerial vehicles of speedboats.

The Navy calls its futuristic weapon LAWS, which stands for the LaserWeapon Systems. What looks like a small telescope is actually a weaponthat can track a moving target and fire a steady laser beam strongenough to burn a hole through steel.

A Navy video of testing conducted last summer off the coast ofCalifornia shows how a laser beam fired from a Navy destroyer was ableto set aflame an approaching UAV or drone, sending it crashing into theocean.

“There was not a single miss” during the testing, said Rear AdmiralMatthew Klunder, chief of Naval Research. The laser was three for treein bringing sown an approaching unmanned aerial vehicle and 12 for 12when previous testes are factored in.

Navy officials have provided a few unclassified details. For example,the laser is designed to be a “plug and play” system that integratesinto a ship's existing targeting technologies and power grids. Thosefactors make it a surprisingly cheap weapon.

Klunder says each pulse of energy from the laser “costs under a dollar”and it can be used against weapon systems that are significantly moreexpensive.

Rear Admiral Thomas Eccles, Navy Sea Systems Commander, says the beamcan be turned on instantly and the ultimately “the generation of poweris essentially your magazine. It's the clip we have” instead of bullets.“We deliver precision with essentially an endless supply of rounds.”

The strength of the beam is flexible enough that at a lower intensitylevel it can be used to warn approaching ships and UAV's not to get tooclose to a Navy ship. Instead of using machine guns to fire non-lethalwarning shots as navy ships do now, the laser can be aimed to “dazzle”the viewing sensors aboard the craft. That light effect warns the pilotof a small water craft or UAV that they are being targeted by a laserand to turn away. If they don't, the laser's power can be boosted todestroy the approaching craft.

Based on earlier testing the Navy is confident the laser is ready forreal-world testing aboard the USS Ponce in the Persian Gulf. The shipwas selected because of its mission to be an enduring presence in theGulf to counter Iranian maritime threats in the region.

The laser could be a hundreds of megawatts per square centimeter. Itcould be a red helium neon laser. It could be pulsed so as to provide adeep penetrating using a Gaussian beam. This type of beam could generatehigh heat below the surface of a target. This high heat could cause anexplosion beneath the surface of the target, thus, gaining a maximumdestructive force from the space based laser beam.

In summary each orbiting solar cell could aim its laser beam at the ICBMsuper capacitor. The death star could fire at its target. The cluster ofsolar cells could replenish the super capacitor. The entire system couldbe re-located if an attacking missile(s) were detected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a space perspective view of a plurality of solar generationcells in use.

FIG. 2 is a space perspective view of a collection of cells moved into acluster, and a death star launched to a rendezvous location.

FIG. 3 is a space perspective of the death star attacking a ship.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a cell.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a cell.

FIG. 6 is a land perspective view of a multi-target attack by a deathstar.

FIG. 7 is a space based perspective view of a multi-cell attack withouta death star.

Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention indetail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of the particular arrangement shown, sincethe invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminologyused herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring first to FIG. 1 the earth E is shown from outer space withCanada and the northern half of the United States of America showing.Three geostationary orbiting solar generation cells are numbered 1A, 1B,1C. Cell 1A is in orbit 10. Cell 1B is in orbit 11. Cell 1C is in orbit9. Each cell collects solar energy on its panels. Each cell has amicrowave converter which converts the collected solar energy tomicrowave energy. The microwave energy is transmitted to earth in beams6, 7, 8. Each beam has an earth diameter D1 of perhaps five miles wideso as not to disrupt the atmosphere. Earth collector 3 convertsmicrowave energy beam 6 to local electrical energy. Earth collector 4converts microwave energy beam 7 to local electrical energy. Earthcollector 5 converts microwave energy beam 8 to local electrical power.

Thus, this space based energy harvesting system 16 is a commerciallyviable earth power generator. The sun is labeled S.

Referring to FIG. 2 the system 16W is now a weapon of mass destruction.A cluster 2 of cells 1A, 1B, 1C etc. has been rapidly coordinated into asuper power generator. Constant calculations among the cells and betweenan earth communications center (not shown, this could be a mobile unit),has created this cluster over a quadrant of the earth where a target hasbeen identified. Alternately an incoming asteroid could be targeted. Acluster of death stars may be coordinated to destroy an asteroid or anyspace debris. At the same time the cluster 2 is formed, a death starICBM 14 has been launched from a silo 12 into an orbit adjacent to thecluster 2. This silo 12 could be a mobile silo. Track 13 shows the pathof the death star 14 into orbit. Once the path of the death star 14 isin orbit the cells of the cluster 2 are controlled to energize via beams15, the laser inside of death star 14. High tech capacitance circuitryin death star 14 stores this accumulated energy until the target in FIG.3 is in range of the death star 14 when the super laser beam 19 isunleashed on the target 20. This load and fire sequence can be repeated.

Also the array of cluster 2 and death star 14 can be re-assembled inhours over any target on earth. Also the target could be an intrudingasteroid from outer space. Such a system could also destroy theaccumulating space garbage mankind has launched for fifty years. It isfeasible this super laser beam 19 could also be used for miningpurposes. Orbit 17 shows the orbit of death star 14. Another possibleuse for super laser beam 19 is steam generation off a coastline topromote rain downwind.

Referring next to FIGS. 4, 5 a cell 1A is shown. The solar panels 21collect sunlight and convert this energy to electricity in the centralstation 23. The electrical to microwave converter 24 is controlled tobeam the microwave energy to either a stationary earth based electricalpower plant 3 in FIG. 1, or to a death star 14 in FIG. 2. The onboardcomputer has duplicate navigation and communication subsystems to keepall cells in constant wartime readiness to deploy. Rocket thrusters 22are guided to move the cell to a designated orbital location. It isenvisioned that a single rocket launch could put dozens of cells inorbit.

Referring next to FIG. 6 the system 16W is taking on multiple targets.Ship 20 using beam 25 and building 27 using beam 26 are hit at the sametime.

Referring next to FIG. 7 no death star is needed to enable system 16 tobe a weapon of mass destruction. Target 200 is hit with a multitude ofmicrowave beams 6, 7, 8 all focused on target 200 rather than on anelectricity generator.

The target can be incrementally heated up as a surrender tactic orblasted with dozens of beams 6, 7, 8.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to thedisclosed embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be madeand still the result will come within the scope of the invention. Nolimitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein isintended or should be inferred. Each apparatus embodiment describedherein has numerous equivalents.

I claim:
 1. A space based weapons system comprising: a plurality oforbiting solar powered cells; each of said cells comprising an onboardcomputer and transceiver; said onboard computer capable of receiving aninstruction to move to a space location over the earth using an onboardthruster assembly; each of said cells comprising a solar energytransmitting means functioning to send an energy ray to a first target;said first target comprising an orbiting laser weapon having an onboardenergy storage device; wherein said energy storage device can receiveenergy from the plurality of orbiting solar powered cells; and whereinsaid orbiting laser weapon can fire a laser beam at an acquired targetusing energy from the energy storage device.
 2. The weapons system ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of orbiting solar poweredcells and its solar energy transmitting means provides an energy beam toearth which is converted into electric energy on a grid.
 3. The weaponssystem of claim 1, wherein the first target and its orbiting laserweapon and its onboard energy storage device further comprise an onboardcoordinating computer and earth transceiver, said on board coordinatingcomputer further comprising a communicating link to the plurality oforbiting solar powered cells so as to coordinate a designated locatingpattern of the plurality of orbiting solar powered cells to direct theirrespective energy rays to the onboard energy storage device on the firsttarget.
 4. The weapons system of claim 3, wherein the first targetfurther comprises a component from an intercontinental ballistic missile(ICBM).
 5. The weapons system of claim 4, wherein the first targetfurther comprises a component of an earth based defense system thatdeploys the first target to a designated orbit and directs the firsttarget to acquire its acquired target and fire its laser beam, saidearth based defense system also directs the plurality of orbiting solarpowered cells to rendezvous with the first target.
 6. The weapons systemof claim 1, wherein the instruction to move to a space location is sentby an earth transceiver.
 7. The weapons system of claim 1, wherein theinstruction to move to a space location is sent by an orbiting solarpowered cell.
 8. The weapons system of claim 1, wherein the instructionto move to a space location is sent by a space vehicle.
 9. The weaponssystem of claim 1, wherein the onboard energy storage device furthercomprises a super capacitor.
 10. The weapons system of claim 1, whereinthe solar energy transmitting means energy ray further comprises amicrowave energy ray.
 11. The weapons system of claim 1, wherein thesolar energy transmitting means energy ray further comprises a laserenergy ray.